soil

Management of grazing Italian river bufalo to preserve habitats defined by Directive 92/43/EEC in a protected wetland area on the Mediterranean coast: Palude Frattarolo, Apulia, It

Modern investigation through botanic, vegetation and soil analyses allowed us to establish, for the frst time, the maximum herd size of grazing Italian river bufalo that would allow the preservation of habitats defned by Directive 92/43/EEC in a coastal area of the Mediterranean basin. The study was funded by project LIFE09 NAT/ITI000150 (“Humid coastal habitat conservations actions inside SIC - Zone umide della Capitanata”), and focused on an Italian wetland area called Palude Frattarolo in the Apulia region included in a SAC IT9110005 (Zone umide della Capitanata).

Research: long-term organic management reduces soil-borne diseases and increases crop production

A recent study published in the journal "Biologia" adds to the growing body of evidence showing organic farming improves microbial conditions in the soil that, in turn, increases disease control and crop yield. This study compared microbiomes (the genetic makeup of all life including bacteria and fungi) in agricultural soil under ten years of organic management versus conventional management.

Inglese

Does organic farming reduce environmental impacts? - A meta-analysis of European research

Article published in the Journal of Environmental Management. Organic farming practices have been promoted as, inter alia, reducing the environmental impacts of agriculture. This meta-analysis systematically analyses published studies that compare environmental impacts of organic and conventional farming in Europe. The results show that organic farming practices generally have positive impacts on the environment per unit of area, but not necessarily per product unit.

European Union: a new soil strategy - healthy soil for a healthy life

Healthy soils are essential to meet climate and biodiversity goals under the European Green Deal.

Part of the EU biodiversity strategy for 2030, this initiative will update the current strategy to address soil degradation and preserve land resources (‘land degradation neutrality’).

The goals are to:

Inglese

Organic soil amendments improve microbial activity and reduce the negative effects of salinity and water-logging in soil

Increasing soil salinity threatens soil health and plant growth by altering soil organic matter and organisms that cycle nutrients. A new study in Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems (it can be downloaded HERE) found that adding organic soil amendments to salty soil increases microbial activity and reduces the negative impacts of salinization. Salinization can occur naturally as climate change increases sea levels and saltwater intrudes into farmland.

Inglese

Organic Amendments Alleviate Salinity Effects on Soil Microorganisms and Mineralisation Processes in Aerobic and Anaerobic Paddy Rice Soils

The study is published in “Frontiers in sustainable food systems”. Sea-water level rise leads to increased saltwater intrusion causing soil salinity on arable land with negative effects on soil microbial processes. Organic amendments are known to reduce the effects of salinity on soil microorganisms, therefore positively influencing microbial activity and nutrient cycling. However, the extent of this effect in paddy rice soils under aerobic compared to anaerobic conditions is unknown.

Knowledge gaps in organic research: understanding interactions of cover crops and tillage for weed control and soil health

Organic Agriculture, the official journal of the International Society of Organic Agriculture Research, has published a research (the pdf can be bought HERE) to understand the interactions between cover crops and tillage for weed control and soil health, one of the biggest knowledge gaps in organic research.

Inglese

Siepi per il biologico (e non solo): proteggono specie utili, ma anche determinano le comunità batteriche del suolo nei terreni coltivati ​​adiacenti

Although the benefits of hedgerows on biodiversity like birds, pollinators and natural enemies to pests is well established, a recent study published in the journal Agronomy found that hedgerows can also benefit the surrounding cropland soil by increasing the functional diversity of soil bacteria. The diversity of soil bacteria is important because when beneficial bacteria are present, they can outcompete harmful bacteria that causes soil and plant disease.

Inglese

Agricultural Soil Organic Matters and Microbiome Are Shaped by Management and Hedgerows

The study is published in the journal Agronomy. Despite the essential roles of soil dissolved organic matter (DOM) and soil microbes in agro-ecosystems, we still have a limited understanding of the extent by which they are impacted by agronomic strategies in ecological and conventional farming.

Pagine

Abbonamento a soil